Marjorie Hass speaking on stage from podium in front of seated Institute participants

Building Community Serving Our Members

CIC strengthens independent colleges and universities and supports campus leaders on current and pressing priorities in higher education.

ABOUT CIC

What is an Independent College?

Simply defined, “independent” institutions are governed by boards of private citizens and operate independent of government control. They are nonprofit organizations supported primarily by tuition revenue, philanthropic gifts, and grants from foundations.

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Belong: An Inclusive Learning Community

Belong is a network of CIC member colleges and universities dedicated to making their campuses more welcoming and inclusive. Designed in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), Belong offers a suite of professional development resources for faculty and staff to support student belonging in class and campus-wide.

Belong works in concert with your campus’s distinctive mission and values, equipping faculty and staff with evidence-based skills and knowledge that increase student belonging and advance campus retention efforts.

Insights, News, & Research

Council of Independent Colleges